1990 FORD TEMPO Electrical System Problems

53 complaints about Electrical System

53
Complaints
4
Crashes
26
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Electrical System Complaints (53)

Oct 21, 2004

CAR HAS REPEATABLE PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING...HAVE HAD IT TOWED, DUE TO THIS, NUMEROUS TIMES, SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO GET IT FIXED, ETC. ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IT HAS TWO IGNITION DEFECTS...POTENTIALLY... SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO, I HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO BEAR THE COST OF REPAIRS MYSELF. I AM OUTRAGED THAT FORD GOT AWAY WITH NOT RECALLING THESE VEHICLES!!!

Mileage: 83,000

Sep 28, 2004 Fire

JUST AFTER PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE . HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE TOP OF THE ALTERNATOR PLUG WAS BURNING FOLLOWED BY WIRING BURNING ACROSS TO THE BATTERY. THE TERMINAL BLOCK ON THE LEFT FENDER BEGAN BURNING AND MELTING. *JB *NM

Mar 5, 2002 Crash

WHILE DRIVING 40MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, ENGINE STALLED, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP RESULTING IN A COLLISION, WHICH TOTALED VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT VEHICLE SHUT OFF 4 TIMES, DEALER REPLACED BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, PLUGS/WIRES, AND STARTER BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

Nov 29, 2001 Crash

REPLACED SEATBELT AND THEY DO THE SAME THING LOCK IN THE BUCKLE POSITION WHEN WIFE PUT IN DITCH SHE HAD TO SQUEZE TO GET OUTEVEN WHEN OPEN DOOR WOULD NOT RELEASE THE HEATER CONTROL HAS BEEN BURNT 3 TIMES AND CURRENTLY IS BURNT AGAIN THEN THE IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED UNDER A RECALL AND THAT DINGS NOW WHEN THE KEY ISN'T EVEN IN IT NICE RECALL I WENT TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE SEATBELTS THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT 300.00 PER DOOR TO FIX MY WIFE WAS QUITE UPSET ABOUT IT WROTE FORD MOTOR A LETTER THEY NEVER ECNOLLEDGE IT. SHE WON'T EVEN LET ME REPLACE THE ENGINE IN IT CAUSE SHE SAYS SHE WILL NOT DRIVE THAT CAR THAT COULD GO UP IN FLAMES OR DOESN'T HAVE SEATBELT THAT WORK CAUSE FORD DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT WORKS PROPER SHE FEELS THE FORD COMPANY HAS DONE NOTHING BUT ENDANGERED MANY ADULTS AND CHILDRENS LIVES WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND SAYS SOMEONE OTTA TAKE CONTROL OVER THIS MATTER SINCERELY [XXX] AND [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Aug 30, 2001

96 V 071 000/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION: VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR WHILE PULLING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. BUT, DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. *AK *SLC

Aug 14, 2001

I HAD TO HAVE MY IGNITION MODUAL REPLACED BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD STALL ON ME WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I READ IN THE PAPER TODAY THAT FORD IS FIGHTING THE RECALL ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I HAVE E-MAILED FORD IN HOPES OF RECTIFING THIS SITUATION, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD ALSO CONTACT YOU FOR HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.*AK

Dec 19, 2000 Fire

GENERATOR IGNITED A SPARK, AND COATING ON ROOF CAUGHT ON FIRE. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THER WAS PROBLEM WITH HARNESS CONNECTOR. CONSUMER FELT ITS WAS A MANUFACTURER' DEFECT. *AK

Nov 15, 2000 Crash

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN CONSUMER CAME TO STOP AND VEHICLE STALLED RESULTING IN BEING HIT ON LEFT REAR DOOR AND VEHICLE SPUN AROUND. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC REAR AXLE WAS BENT DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, APPRXIMATELY $1300. VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING FOR THE LAST 30000 MILES. *AK THE CONSUMER SAYS THE ESTIMATE FOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IS MUCH MORE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS LEMON AND HAD CHANGED HANDS FIVE TIMES. *YH

Nov 15, 2000

THIS VEHICLE HAS A STALLING PROBLEM WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN OR INTERSECTION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT IGNITION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AND THERE IS NO MORE STALLING PROBLEM. *YH

Oct 30, 2000 Crash

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND WAS SIDE CRASHED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE UPCOMING TRAFFIC. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM WAS COMING BACK. 2 TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCING AN OIL LEAK. *AK *SLC

Oct 18, 2000

VEHICLE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WHICH COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT.CONSUMER HAD IGNITON IDLE SENSOR REPLACED EVERY YEAR .*AK

Oct 15, 2000 Fire

NO SUMMARY

Oct 15, 2000 Fire

NO SUMMARY

Oct 15, 2000 Fire

NO SUMMARY

Oct 15, 2000 Fire

NO SUMMARY

Oct 11, 2000

VEH. STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY ("CALIFORNIA RECALL PROBLEM" SYMPTOMS) WHILE CLIMBING IN MOUNTAINS AND UNDER WARM CONDITIONS. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, VEH. WILL RUN AGAIN BUT THEN REPEATS THE STOPPING PROBLEM. ENGINE STOPS AND POWER-ASSISTED BRAKING/STEERING IS LOST IN HIGHWAY DRIVING. *AK

Oct 2, 2000

STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE ON EXPRESSWAY, MOST ON 4 LANE 55 MPH ROADS. MANY SITUATIONS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. AFTER SITTING AT ROADSIDE FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS IT WOULD START RIGHT UP. TRIED A NUMBER OF REMEDIES BEFORE HEARING OF THE POSSIBLE RECALL IN CALIFORNIA. IT WAS A USED FUNCTIONAL CAR SO WE DID ALL OF THE DO IT YOURSELF REMEDIES LIKE DRY GAS, NEW STARTER, ETC. ALL OF THE SITUATIONS IN THE ARTICLES ABOUT THE RECALLS DESCRIBED MY INSTANCES TO A T.*AK

Sep 28, 2000

THERE WERE SAFETY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE THAT WERE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. HOW DO I FIND OUT IF THIS RECALL WAS EVER DONE AND THE SWITCH REPLACED? *AK

May 6, 1999

CAR CONTANTLY STALLS, HAVE HAD SERVICE 3 TIMES TO CORRECT, NOTHING WORKS, NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG.

Apr 14, 1999

KEY BROKE OFF IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CONSUMER COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH LOCKED UP. CONSUMER HAD TO CALL OUT A LOCK SMITH TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. *AK

Jan 13, 1999 Fire

IMPROPER WIRE REPAIRS CAUSE THE VEHICLE ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE.

Oct 20, 1998

IGNITION SWITCH WILL START THE CAR, BUT WHEN THE SWITCH IS RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION, IT WILL NOT KEEP THE CAR RUNNING. REPAIRS DONE TO PREVIOUS RECALL 95S28 ON 12/17/96. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REPAIR THE WORK BECAUSE OF TIME FRAME LIMITATIONS ON RECALL. *AK

Mar 3, 1998 Fire

VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. HORN WAS BLARING & OWNER LOOKED OUT WINDOW & NOTICED VEHICLE IN FLAMES. WAS TOLD FIRE OCCURRED NEAR IGNITION SWITCH AREA. CALLED DEALER & INFORMED UNDER RECALL (#96V071000). WILL REPAIR IGNITION SWITCH & WIRING HARNESS ONLY & NOTHING ELSE. OWNER NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE. HAD OWNED VEHICLE SINCE NEW. *AK

Feb 4, 1998 Fire

WHILE TRAVELING SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK

Feb 28, 1997 Fire

ELECTRICAL:IGNITION SWITCH RECALL#96V071. VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, WALKED ABOUT 6 HOUSES DOWN .PEOPLE STARTED SCREAMING THAT VEHICLE WAS SMOKING,SUDDENLY BURST INTO FALMES. VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK

Jan 27, 1997

REPLACE ALTERNATOR 8 DIFFERENT TIME, POSSIBLE DUE TO DESIGN FLAW CAUSING IT TO SHORT OUT.

Jan 27, 1997

IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPAIRED EARLIER, AFTER BREAKING.

Jan 27, 1997

ALTERNATOR REPLACED EIGHT TIMES DUE TO SHORTING OUT. MJS

Jan 27, 1997

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. MJS

Dec 18, 1996 Fire

OWNER STATES THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED ,SHE THEN RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH, ALSO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IT STARTED FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK *JB

Dec 11, 1996 Fire

ALTERNATOR WIRES BURNT.

Nov 19, 1996

NO PARTS, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, THE DEALER SAID THAT HE WOULD CALL OR SEND A LETTER WHEN THE PARTS ARE IN AND IT HAS BEEN A MONTH AND STILL NO PARTS. PLEASE EXPLAIN IN DETAIL *AK

Sep 10, 1996 Fire

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE, STOPPED AT TRAIN STATION TO MEET SOMEONE, ANOTHER PERSON CAME IN THE STATION TO REPORT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *AK

Sep 6, 1996 Fire

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

Aug 22, 1996 Fire

ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER BETWEEN SEATS CONSOLE CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE.

Aug 13, 1996

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR CABLE TO MELT.AK

Jul 30, 1996 Fire

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

Jul 17, 1996 Fire

WHILE DRIVING, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK RECALL 96V071 WAS NEVER RECEIVED, CONSUMER HEARD OF RECALL THROUGH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. *SLC

Jul 1, 1996

ALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING HARNESS TO MELT 5 TIMES. *SD

Apr 29, 1996 Fire

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCHON FIRE UNDER THE DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Apr 29, 1996 Fire

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCHON FIRE UNDER THE DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Apr 29, 1996 Fire

WIRING HARNESS SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

Apr 26, 1996 Fire

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITING IN THE DRIVEWAY,CAUSED BY IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Feb 26, 1996 Fire

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

Dec 8, 1995 Fire

UNDERHOOD FIRE CAUSED BY FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING. LIGHTS GO ON/OFF WHILE DRIVING; IMPAIRS VISION. TT

Dec 6, 1995 Fire

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO FIRES RESULTING FROM THE ALTERNATOR SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Dec 1, 1995

ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS IS BURNING WHICH CAUSES THE ALTERNATOR TO GO BAD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Nov 30, 1995 Fire

UNDER THE DASH FIRE, STEERING COLUMN, ELECTRICAL SHORT IN IGNITION SWITCH, VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR PERIOD OF 9 HRS. TT

Oct 23, 1995 Fire

HEAVY WIRE 3 PRONG CONNECTOR PLUG CAUGHT ON FIRE, REPLACE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. TT

Aug 9, 1995

THE VEHICLE QUITS WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL NOT RUN AGAIN UNLESS YOU LET IT SIT. HAPPENS WHEN ITS HOT OUTSIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Jul 21, 1995

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

Jun 14, 1995

WHILE DRIVING, LOW TO HIGH SPEEDS, ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, NO PRIOR WARNING. TT

Mar 3, 1995

IGNITION WIRES CORRODED AT COIL CONNECTION, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING. *SKD